Manatee County Approves $100,000 for Security Upgrades at Old Memphis Cemetery After Vandalism

Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved $100,000 in funding for security improvements at Old Memphis Cemetery following a vandalism incident earlier this month that damaged 17 graves.

The funding will be used to install fencing and security cameras at the historic cemetery in Palmetto after broken vaults, damaged headstones and graffiti were discovered throughout the property. The vandalism sparked community outrage and renewed calls for long-term preservation efforts at historic cemeteries across the county.

County officials said the security measures are part of a broader effort to protect abandoned and historic burial grounds while honoring the community’s history and heritage.

As the county prepares to move forward with security upgrades, residents and businesses have already stepped in to help restore the damaged gravesites. Local business owner Christopher Mullinex donated concrete and labor to assist with repairs alongside other community volunteers, helping restore several graves at no cost to the county.

The volunteer efforts have allowed county leaders to focus funding on security improvements and future restoration planning for the cemetery.

Community advocates say the recent repairs are an important first step, but many continue to push for a long-term preservation strategy. Leaders with the NAACP in Manatee County said additional action will still be needed to ensure the protection and maintenance of historic cemeteries moving forward.

The vandalism investigation remains ongoing, and deputies with the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office continue working to identify those responsible.